Golden Lad wears down longshot to win Cornhusker

ALTOONA, Iowa – Golden Lad responded to jockey Javier Castellano's urging to wear down the longshot Ecleto Red for a 1 1/2-length score in Saturday's featured Grade 3, $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap.

Ecleto Red, trained by the meet's leading trainer, Lynn Chleborad, and dismissed at 30-1 in the nine-horse group of older horses, seized command under jockey Alex Birzer, and the pair doled out comfortable fractions of 23.55 seconds, 48.59, and 1:13.26 in the 1 1/8-mile test.

Favored Golden Lad ($4.60), who shipped in from Saratoga for trainer Todd Pletcher, wisely kept tabs on Ecleto Red as Castellano, the nation's leading rider, was keen on the tepid pace. Page McKenney, one of several entrants who may have been compromised by the steady pace, made an early bid entering the far turn and held on to third place, three-quarters of a length behind Ecleto Red.

Defending champ Carve and fellow graded stakes winners Call Me George and Tapiture never were able to land a blow. The 2014 Iowa Derby winner Jessica's Star dropped back suddenly from his forward position on the far turn.

Golden Lad, owned by the E. Paul Robsham Stables LLC of Joyce Robsham, collected $179,100 for the victory and raced the Cornhusker's nine furlongs on a fast track in 1:49.86.